Separating device



June 28, 1932. M. BQN'GERA 1,865,167

SEPARATING DEVI CE Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mys..

June 28, 1932. M. BONGERA 1,865,167

SEPARATING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AV/f/l f f Patented June 28, 1932 MIGUEL BONGERA,

PATENT OFFICE OF MIERES, SPAIN SEPARATING DEVICE Application filed July 5, 1928, Serial No.

Hydraulic apparatus called washers already exist for separating heavy materials, such as coal or ores.

Some of these devices have an inclined slide channel, in which the materials to be separated are conveyed by a stream of water. The base or bed of the said channel has openings of different sizes, through which vertically ascending water streams are caused to pass at predetermined pressures. The material which passes above these openings falls through them, if its weight is greater than the force of the ascending water streams, or it moves along the separating channel if its density is so low that'it lacks the necessary weight for passing through the above mentioned ascending streams.

I have improved this separating apparatus, the said improvements particularly consisting in utilizing the current or stream of water which drives the ore along the channel of the separating apparatus, for the purpose of obtaining the ascending saparating stream, thus avoiding the expense of securing the ascending streams of water under pressure.

For this purpose, the apparatus so improved is mainly characterized by the fact that the separation of the materials whichare driven along a channel by means of a stream of water, is obtained by causingthe stream to suddenly descend and to thensuddenly ascend by moving in a V-shaped path, the outlet or ascending branch of the said path being shorter than the inlet branch, so that the driving stream produces an ascending stream of greater or less force depending on the difference of level existing between the inlet branch and the outlet branch. The lighter materials pass through said outlet branch, being pushed by the driving stream, and the heavier materials pass through an opening provided in the bottom of the V-shaped path. This opening communicates with a closed tank from which these heavy materials are removed by any suitable means.

Moreover, in this improved apparatus, the regulation of the force of the ascending stream is obtained by means of a vertically adjustable sluice placed at the outlet of the V-shapedpath, thus establishing a greater or 290,639, and in France October 12, 1927.

less difference of level between the inlet point of the V-shaped path and the outlet point.

Finally, the separation of the ore can be facilitated by means of a supplemental ascending stream of water under pressure which can be regulated. This stream enters through the outlet opening for the heaviest ores, provided in the bottom of the V-shaped path. This supplemental stream cooperates with the ascending stream produced in the outlet branch of the V-shaped path, and this supplemental stream is adapted to prevent the lightest ores from being drawn to the bottom of the tank by the ores of great density at the time of their downward movement.

The present invention also has for its object additional improvements in the above mentioned apparatus, the said improvements being particularly adapted:

1. To ensure a perfect separation of the materials treated, according to their densities, even for very small diiferences of density, and independently of the shapes and dimensions of the pieces of material.

2. To then ensure a separation according to the sizes of the pieces of material, after the separation according to densities, thus securing perfectly uniform products.

3. To substantially reduce the cost of the plant. i

4. To limit the working expense to thecost of power necessary for the extraction of the washed and waste products, and for feeding with water, as well as the salary of a single operator or surveyor for working the washer.

5. To reduce to more than 50% the consumption of water in comparison with existing plants, for the same number of tons treated per hour.

6. To reduce the maintenance expenses to the minimum.

7. To reduce considerably the expense of power in comparison with those required in similar plants or other systems. i r

8. To reduce the size of the minimum.

9. To enable the immediate removal of the separated product, even of the fine products or slimes, because of the small quantity of' water they contain.

plant to a 10. To obtain a perfectly graduated separation so as to obtain finely divided products, and to secure the perfect washing of the slimes.

The improvements in accordance with the invention are particularly characterized by the following characteristics either separate- 1y, or in their various combinations:

1. Utilizing a separating box whose walls are of parabolic or similar shape.

2. An adjustable conduit connecting the lower part of the separating box to a lower tank full of water into which the denser materials are delivered.

3. Making the inner free cross-section of this conduit adjustable.

4. Forming an inner wall of the separating box by a core adjustable in position, either vertically, or horizontally or both vertically and horizontally.

5. Providing the lower tank with an ascending side conduit, connected by a tube, at its upper part, with the base of the separarating box, this channel having a valve to regulate the level of the water in the ascending conduit.

6. Providing the conduit connecting the separating box to the lower tank with bars capable of receiving a reciprocating move ment.

- 7 Providing longitudinal partitions either in the channels, or in the separating box, or in the separating box and the channels, for permitting the division of the apparatus into several chambers.

8. Providing a suitable screen, and also providing a cylindrical drum screen having an inclined axis after each separating box, on the lower side of the control valve.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example only, an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic elevation of a plant.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view on line XX-X of Fig. 2.

The separating apparatus or wash-er illustrated comprises a series of separating boxes, between which are arranged drum screens adapted to separate the materials treated according to size.

The separating box (Fig. 2) comprises a channel 1, having a rectangular cross section and a flat or planar bottom which is more or less inclined. according to the nature of the materials to be treated. The second portion 1 of the channel has a bottom having the shape of the arc of a parabola or a similar curve H which is substantially the shape of the path the water would take if it fell freely in this portion 1'. On the side opposite to this curve H, the bottom of the ascending branch has the shape of another parabolic curve H which corresponds to the path of water falling from point 3 to point 4, if a sill or weir were placed at point 3. By placing (as shown in Fig. 2) a core N between the curves H and II, which has faces curved along lines It and R parallel to H and H, a conduit is formed betweenwhose ends there is a difference in pressure. This core N can be horizontally or vertically moved, so as to increase or diminish the cross section of one or both branches of the conduit, to accurately adjust the apparatus.

In the region where these two curved branches meet, that is to say, at the lowest point of the conduit, the conduit is open and its connected branches merge into a single vertical channel of rectangular cross-section l414t which puts the conduit into coinmunieation with a box 11, which is in communication with a constant level water tank, through the pipe 56 provided with a valve 7"; the constant level tank is arranged at any suitable place.

A conduit A extends from each box 11. The conduit A can be made of wood and can serve for housing an elevating device of any suitable type. This elevating device is not shown in the drawings, as it is old per se, and is well known to the art. This conduit A is open at one side of its upper part to form the outlet of a channel K which terminates in the main channel 1-1. A small dam or weir m, the height of which is variable at will, is provided in the conduit K, and the upper edge of this weir limits the level of the water contained in each box 11 and in its conduit A.

A valve 7 is located at the end of the ascending branch of the separating box at the point 3. This valve has a curved shape corresponding to the curved shape of the adjacent part of the conduit. This valve can be raised or lowered by means of the lever 8 or by a similar device, in order to establish any required difference of level between the points at which the numerals 1 and 3 appear, in order to regulate the difference in pressure in the conduit.

The conduit 44 can be adjusted in length by means of a sheet-iron tube 9, telescopically mounted and actuated by the rod F. This conduit or sheet-iron tube is provided at two of its opposite sides with notches E shown in Fig. 3 in which partition members 7), 9, 79 can be arranged (see Figs. 2 and 3). These partitions p, p, p are secured to the cover M which can be very easily removed for placing therein the desired number of partition members or bars 79. The function of the partition members is to divide the interior of the conduit 4:4:, so as to regulate the speed of the water passing through it, by rendering its interior free area approximately uniform throughout. The free interior area of said conduit can be regulated by Varying the number of said partition members utilized and by also varying their width.

In order to prevent obstruction of the passages in which the interior of the conduit H is divided, iron bars Z are provided; these bars move down by their own weight and are raised by an eccentric or by other equivalent means. The stoppage of this movement indicates that the apparatus has ceased to work normally.

Beyond the ascending branch of the separating box and beyond the valve 7, the channel has a rectangular and tapered cross-see tion. The material and water are caused to discharge on a screen or a drum T of cylindrical shape. This drum has a small diameter in proportion to its length, and it is covered with a wire screen or grid and it turns on its axis which is inclined accordingto requirements. A channel C is located under the drum T. This channel O is similar to the channel 1-1, and it leads to the next separating box. The operation is as follows:

The materials to be treated mixed with the necessary quantity of water, are discharged in the highest position, namely, the inlet of the channel 11 (Fig. 2). The materials and water move in the channel with a speed depending on its cross-section, on its inclination, on the quantity of water, and on the quantity of materials which are to be caused to flow in the channel. The materials are separated according to their densities in this channel, the denser materials falling to the bottom and the lightest remaining at the surface of the water. The water and the materials drawn along by it, continue to move in the curved separating box in a uniform manner due to the curved shape of the descending branch, and the separation of the materials according to their densities is increased, the denser pieces passing through H and the lighter pieces sliding against the wall R. The pieces of intermediate density which form a mixture if coal is being treated, flow in the middle of the stream between the walls H and R.

An ascending water stream V passes through tube 44, this being produced by the water under pressure which, coming from the constant level tank, is led to the box 11 by the pipes 6 and 5. The valves r control the outflow of the water from this tank.

The lightest materials are always drawn against the wall R by the ascending streams VV due to the pressure of the water in the separating box and the admission of water under pressure through ie-4- and these lightest materials, passing beyond the valve 7, are discharged into the drum T.

The denser materials, sliding along wall H, pass through the ascending stream V and fall into the box 11, from which they are re moved by an elevator arranged in the conduit A.

However, there may be materials of intermediate density, the pieces of which have also small diflerences of density. Likewise, there may be pieces which because of their shape and because of their position during the fall in the descending branch of the separating box, would go through l-4 instead of rising in the ascending branch 3. The ascending stream V, when encountering the descending stream, modifies the direction and the position of these pieces and its 1neeting with stream V allows an accurate and exact separation by densities, independent of the shape and of the dimension of the materials, even if the differences of densities between the ditlerent elements are very small.

The speed of the stream V is controlled by the valve 7, and that of the stream V is controlled by the valve of the pipe 5. The proportion variable at will, between the quantity of water and the quantity of the materials to be treated; the optional variation of the cross-sections of the branches of the siphon by displacement of the core N the regulation of the length of the conduit H as Well as oi the interior free area or efiective cross-section or" the latter; its division by the dividing members and the regulation of the pressure by the valve on of the channel K, are the dilierent means which enable the separating box to be accurately regulated and operated.

It is thus possible to cause the materials of high density to fall into box 11 and to direct the materials of the required density to the drum.

The drum prevents the passage of the larger pieces which issue through a channel transporting them to the required point. The smaller pieces pass with the water, through the drum and falling into another channel similar to the first one, enter into another washing box, of the same type as the first one.

A separation by size and by densities as ac curate as desired is obtained. If the apparatus has been regulated for a certain type of material, the variations of the pieces or the irregularity in the supply of the said materials to the separating box, are corrected by the apparatus itself.

If there is a temporary excess of pieces of the highest density or a temporary oversupply of material, the section of the conduit 4.& would become more or less obstructed, the ascending stream would pass through it with diiliculty and there would be a lack of water and a diminution of speed of the latter in the ascending branch of the separating box. However, as the water would then not pass in normal quantity, it would rise in the conduit A (Fig. 3), and following the channel K (having the control valve m),

it would fall into the channel 1l for supplying to the latter the water which has not risen through 4.4:. Moreover, the rise of the level of the water and consequently, the increase of pressure in A, automatically helps in stirring the dense materials through which the current of water will force a passage.

If coal is being treated, then after the passage of the material through several separating boxes, the separation of the smallest pieces, whose diameter is about 0.1 mm. is effected and then the ascending stream through 44 is dispensed with in the next separating box, as it is no longer necessary because pieces must be separated between which there is only differences of density, without any substantial difference of shape. It is no longer necessary to make allowance for different positions of the line pieces during the fall, so that it is sufiicient to have the lower box full of water. The descending stream, striking this stationary liquid mass, follows the ascending path in the other branch of the separating box in which the valve 7, suitably adjusted, produces a perfect separation between the coal and the tailings.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of aseparating and washing plant. The materials to be treated enter through B the channels 1-1, together with the water necessary for forcing them along the latter. The heavy materials or waste are removed from the bottom of the box 11 and the light materials pass into the conduits S which receive them from the drum screens, these heavy and light materials being transported by any suitable means to the desired places.

The number of separating boxes to be arranged in series depends on the kind of materials to be treated and also on the separation by sizes which it is desirable to obtain.

The simplicity of the plant enables it to ;be rapidly erected and economically oper ated.

The perfect separation which is obtained. with the apparatus described is due to the meeting of the descending and ascending streams at the bottom of the separating box, to the possibility of regulating them with very small variations, and to the regularity and uniformity of the speed of the water stream driving the materials treated, which "is obtained among other means, by the parabolic shape of the branches of the separating box.

The stream of mixed water and material which passes downwardly through the downwardly inclined parabolic branch ofsaid channel, has a movement in said downwardly inclined branch which closely corresponds to the path of free movement of said water and material, if said water and said material were forced out of a pipe.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a separatingbox having a descending channel and a directly adjacent ascending channel, a tank located below said separating box, a conduit connecting said tank to said channels, said tank having an upwardly directed branch and a second conduit connecting said upwardly directed branch and said separating box.

2. In combination, a separating box having a descending channel and an ascending channel, a tank located below said separating box, a conduit connecting said tank to said channels, said tank having an upwardly directed branch and a second conduit connecting said upwardly directed branch and said separating box, said second conduit having a valve of adjustable height therein.

3. A separating box having a channel provided with an inlet end and with an outlet end which are laterally separated from each other, means adapted to send into said inlet end a stream of water containing the material to be separated and having a predetermined velocity, said channel having a descending branch and also having an ascending branch, a receiving tank connected to said channel at substantially the lowest point thereof, means adapted to force an ascending stream of water into said channel at a predetermined velocity, so that said ascending stream of water moves upwardly through said ascending branch, the shape of said descending channel being substantially that of a parabola which corresponds to the trajectory of the stream of Water and of the lighter particles of the material, the shape of the ascending branch being also substantially that of a parabola which corresponds to the trajectory of the water and material moving therein.

4. A separating box having a channel provided with an inlet end and with an outlet end which are laterally separated from each other, said channel having a descending branch and an ascending branch, means adapted to send into said inlet end a stream of water containing the material to be separated at a predetermined velocity, the shape of the first end descending branch of the separating box being substantially that of a parabola corresponding to the trajectory of the water and of the lighter particles of the material, a receiving tank connected to said separating box at substantially the lowest point thereof, and means adapted to supply an ascending current of water to the ascend ing branch of said box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MIGUEL BONGERA. 

